Sharing Beyond Books #328 Comment Giveaway November 11, 2017

Hello again and Welcome to Sharing Beyond Books, SBB!

Thanks to everyone who commented last week. We are looking forward to a variety of movies. There were 5 votes for Hidden Figures and 5 for Murder on the Orient Express. Then several got 2 votes: The Monster Calls, Murder Between Us and Shack. Three had no votes -- not movie people.

~~~~~

The Winner from SBB #327 comments is: #9 bn100 who can make a GC choice if international or book choice from the Updated (**Finally!) ARC/Review titles or (recently updated) Love and Christmas titles - all linked near the end of the post.

**NOTE: I did post an Updated ARC and Other books for Giveaways. I have to go back and list the titles -- someday.
Please let me know your choice by completing the WINNER FORM.

WEEK #328

(One Question.)

Alina asks: How do you pick the next book you want to read? Do you have a ritual??

The challenges I participate in help guide my reading: Alphabet, Audiobook, TBR and NetGalley. I start planning the end of one year for the next year by picking audio books that are TBR and NetGalley that match the Alphabet. Then I select from my NetGalley titles - trying but rarely getting to them before the release date. I queue in tours when scheduled and author review titles next. Then I fit TBRs in as I like to read 1/2 of my yearly reading in TBRs.

Image found at Pinterest.

Thanks to those who are sending in Questions. DON'T BE SHY! Surely everyone has a Q or two you'd like to ask. Input suggestions in this Suggested Question Form. At the end of each month I draw from the suggestions I used during the month and that person will get a book choice or GC. I thank everyone for submitting questions. Thanks for sending in questions! The supply of questions is dwindling so share some if you think of any -- even if they are duplicates I'll weed through or try to modify.

Your turn to share. Alina asks: How do you pick the next book you want to read? Do you have a ritual??

SBB Comment Winners can choose a selection from the Updated ARC and Other books, including the "Love" and Christmas titles all in one post.

SBB Rules:
a) Must be a follower.
b) Share a comment on the question above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made through Saturday November 18, 2017 at 5 PM central.

Audible Book Review: Apocalypse: The Days of Elijah, Book 1, by Mark Goodwin

This story is very engaging, Biblically based, and I want to continue the series.
Apocalypse: The Days of Elijah, Book 1
By: Mark Goodwin
Narrated by: Kevin Pierce

Series: The Days of Elijah, Book 1
Length: 6 hrs and 46 mins
Unabridged
Release date: 01-19-17
Language: English
Publisher: Goodwin America Corp.
Genre: Apocalyptic, Religious, Sci Fi
My Rating: 4.50 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
After a massive wave of disappearances, 26-year-old CIA analyst Everett Carroll finally believes what he's been told about the biblical prophecy of the rapture. But will he be able to survive the gauntlet of destruction known as the Great Tribulation? Seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven vials of God's wrath are about to be poured out upon the earth, and woe to the inhabitants thereof! Global currencies have collapsed, famine and plague have claimed the lives of millions, and the world has crumbled into chaos. The only reason Everett and his girlfriend, Courtney, have survived the mayhem is because they were warned by John Jones, Everett's recently deceased boss, that all of these tragedies would occur. And what's more, through his inside knowledge at the agency, mixed with his interpretation of prophecy, Jones predicted that a world leader would ride in on a white horse to fix the ills of the planet. But who is this leader and what is his motivation for mandating the new identification implant and the global cashless currency?
Everett is surprised when he finds out that Elijah, the Messianic Jewish hermit who lives on the mountain above their retreat, did not disappear along with the rest of the Christians. When he tells Everett of a special mission that God has given him, the old prophet gives Everett more questions than answers.
This is the highly-anticipated follow-up series to the best-selling trilogy, The Days of Noah, which chronicles the economic, moral, and social collapse of the United States.
As with all books by Mark Goodwin, this book contains no profanity and no embarrassing sex scenes. However, if you're offended by conservative principles and references to scripture, this book might not be for you.
©2016 Goodwin America Corp. (P)2017 Goodwin America Corp.

Review:
Everett is a 26-year-old CIA analyst whose boss, John Jones, slowly convinced him to prepare for a collapse of society as we know it. Everett and his girlfriend, Courtney survived the collapse with the help of Jones’ advice and in the safety of the cabin Jones left to them. Another couple was sharing the responsibilities of survival preparedness and watch until one morning they disappeared… along with many other unexplained disappearances around the world.

The new government and the new world religious leader provide a strange tale of alien abductions to explain the disappearances. Even this bizarre story was predicted by Jones so Everett and Courtney are even more convinced that his conspiracies theories are more fact than fiction.

Everett and Courtney are a bit surprised to learn that the old Messianic Jewish hermit, Elijah, who lives up the hill, did not disappear with the other Christian believers. But Elijah explains he is waiting to fulfill a special mission and, in the meantime, he encourages the couple to believe and get right with God. Then God can be their biggest ally in the earthly battles.

Everett reaches out to another couple who he knows were underground resisters of the new marking and commerce system. The new couple joins them at the cabin and they begin to strategize how to acquire and store enough supplies to last the next seven years that is expected to be turmoil and oppression, especially for those who refused to accept the mark under the new government. There are dangers ranging from local thieves to government authorities when they travel to the city so that Elijah can confront one of the leaders, and finally nature itself presents its own mix of troubles in fires, landslides and earthquakes.

The “apocalypse” theme is not new but I enjoyed the characters and how the trials and disappearances played out in their lives. There is a good blend of action and theological argument. I also liked the prepper, survival elements. I enjoyed the first book in the trilogy, The Days of Noah, the series where Everett and Jones are first introduced. Although this picks up in time after the trilogy, there is a summary and enough fill in of the backstory so I didn’t feel like I missed too much. I do want to continue the story from here to keep track of the characters and their struggles to survive. I recommend this to readers who enjoy apocalyptic stories with a Biblical foundation and no foul language.

Audio Notes: Kevin Pierce does a fine job with the narration. He gives the characters distinct sounds and portrays the personalities set by the author. I really enjoyed listening to this in audio.

I selected this story with an Audible Credit in April 2017. This adds to my Audio Book Challenge.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway November 10, 2017

Happy Friday!
I am tired again tonight (Thursday) just from working away at the office. We put the heated blanket on the bed tonight just in case that chill air seeps in.

Don't forget that I celebrate this event for the four weeks in November by selecting FOUR random winners! So be ready to make your picks to give books a new home or get a GC to spend toward book purchases!

I have a picture of the new box of books but not sure when I will get to list the titles. Maybe this Saturday.
(We FINALLY got the won books set to go in the mail tomorrow (Friday), so watch for the packages next week.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the November 3 Pick. There were no automatic wins this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There were no titles blocked.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from November 3 Pick:
bn100 gets Something Special;
CAROL L gets the Rachel Lee Pair;
RUBYNREBA gets The Inquisitor;
and
NIKKI gets a GC..

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

This is a lovely image don't you think?!
Image found at Bonnie Brown's Book Reviews..

New Book Group #76 November 3, 2017 (37 titles)
24 in the top picture and 13 in the lower picture. Not sure that you can read the titles so I will try to list these soon.

New Book Group #75 September 29, 2017

To be listed on Saturday soon. (The Painted House is cassette tapes)
PAIRS:
Rachel Lee: Snow in September and Ever Princess
JoAnn Ross: Legacy of Lies and Confessions
Aunt Erma's Cope Book
Morning Song
 The Trophy Wife 
The Painted House is cassette tapes
Daring
Something Special
Named of the Dragon
Whispers at Midnight
The Inquisitor
Rehabilitation
Secret Blessing

New Book Group #74 August 25, 2017

PAIRS:
Suzanne Brockman: Flashpoint and Over the Edge
Lisa Gardner: Hide and The Survivor’s Club (spine wear)
SINGLES:
Treasure Me by Robyn DeHart
Cold Blooded by Lisa Jackson
House of Dreams by Brenda Joyce (slight spine wear)
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan
Surrender My Love by Johanna Lindsey (slight spine wear)
204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber
The Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson – Audio Cassettes
The Duchess Diaries by Barbara Dawson Smith
To Conquer a Highlander by Mary Wine
Cain by James Byron Huggins (Hardback)
The New Birth Order Book by Dr. Kevin Leman
Reader’s Digest Large Type: At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks and Consigned to Death by Jane K. Cleland

New Book Group #73 June 16, 2017
I was looking for Summer titles but that didn’t really work.
SINGLES:
The Cowboy by Joan Johnston
A Dragon Prince by Mary Gillgannon
A Kiss Before Dawn by Kimberly Logan

New Book Group #72 May 12, 2017
PAIRS:
Brenda Joyce: The Third Heiress and The Rival
Jayne Ann Krentz: Dangerous Affair and True Colors
SINGLES:
Rainbow Mars by Larry Niven
Bound by Destiny by Rayka Mennen
The Fireman’s Fair by Josephine Humphreys (Hardcover)

New Book Group #71 March 10, 2017
Mysteries and Thrillers
SINGLES:
There Was A Little Girl by Ed McBain (Audio Cassettes)

New Book Group #70 January 27, 2017
Thought I’d share some romances for February:
SINGLES:
Kissed by Shadows (Get Connected Romances) by Jane Feather
Love's Brazen Fire by Betina Krahn

New Book Group #69 November 18, 2016 -- All Gone

New Book Group #68 October 28, 2016
SINGLES:
Plan of Attack by Dan Brown

New Book Group #67 September 9, 2016

(*Three more very old books from my Gothics box.)
SINGLES:
*The Man in the Garden by Paule Mason (1969 - yellowed)

New Book Group #66 June 25, 2016

(I will post a picture later. *Four of these books are very old; pulled from a box of gothic novels I have had for many years. They may not be wanted by anyone and if so, I will donate elsewhere in time.)
SINGLES:
*Maggie – Her Marriage by Taylor Caldwell (1953 very old, yellowed pages, some stain damage doesn't effect reading)
Fire Dancer by Ann Maxwell


New Book Group #65 April 29, 2016-- All Gone
The Champion by Heather Grothaus

New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016
SINGLES:
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette

New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016 -- All Gone

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

SINGLES:
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)

New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014 -- All Gone

BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty by Vickie Kennedy
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.

BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost EIGHT years I have posted 75 groups of 16 (1,200) books to find new homes! (as of November 2, 2017).

I am happy to say that so far about 1,119+ books have found new homes through this feature! YAY. [A month or so ago I posted I had reached 2000 books given away. As I calculated the numbers tonight I realized that had to be an error. I realized I went from 1098 to 2001 instead of 1101. Guess I was tired; sorry for the error.] I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review: The Christmas Room by Catherine Anderson

This is a nice small town, family and romance story.

The Christmas Room
by Catherine Anderson

File Size: 1377 KB
Print Length: 428 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399586318
Publisher: Berkley (September 26, 2017)
ASIN: B01NAU2NLU
Genre: Holiday, Romance, Second Chance Romance
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

The beloved author of the Mystic Creek series gifts readers with a novel of homespun holiday cheer, as two families discover the joy of hope and redemption....
Widow Maddie McLendon has uprooted her life to move to Rustlers Gulch with her son and grandson. But as a brutal Montana winter looms on the horizon, contractors have yet to break ground on their new house, leaving them to live in a makeshift camp of trailers, tents, and sheds....
Since his wife died six years ago, millionaire rancher Sam Conacher has been content to wallow in his grief alone while keeping a tight rein on his twenty-six-year-old daughter. But now the girl has gone and fallen in love with his foolish new neighbor’s no-good son....
Maddie and Sam will never see eye to eye on anything, until a near-tragedy gives them a true glimpse into each other’s souls. And as the first snowflakes begin to fall, they’ll discover that an open heart is the biggest gift of all....

Review:
Maddie, a famous mystery author, her thirty-five year old son, Cam, and sixteen year old grandson, Caleb, are living in a motor trailer and a ‘camp’ of sheds and tents while they wait for their homes to be built on their property. Their grouchy neighbor, Sam Conacher, has nothing but abusive comments to make about the ‘trashy’ neighbors. Then again, Sam hasn’t had much good to say about anything or anyone since his wife died several years past. He has ostracized friends and employees so that he no longer has enough help to properly manage his ranch. Sam’s twenty-six year old daughter, Kristin, helps to manage the farm, and she is stuck close to home as Sam frightens away any possible suitor by shredding the reputation of the man.

Kristin sees Cam at a local pub and invites him to sit with her. They start a nice rapport before Cam realizes who she is. Cam is trying to build a new real estate business in the area and his career and family are at risk. Cam tries to step away but the draw between Kristin and Cam keeps pulling them together.

When Sam learns that Kristin has been sneaky out to see the 'hillbilly', no good neighbor, Sam arrives at the trailer to confront Cam. Instead he ends up facing a fierce mother, Maddie, who isn't about to let a narrow minder, curmudgeon speak badly of her family. Their next encounters don’t go much better. It takes a rescue and accident to change the dynamics but that doesn’t mean things will run smooth.

There is plenty of conflict balance with nice, warm family connection. I was saddened by the long train of deception that was practiced in a misguided sense of care. On the other hand, I appreciated the turn around that moves those who suffered loss to a point where they could trust and love again. The Christmas Room itself was a lovely surprise and brought the story to a warm conclusion. There is a gentle measure of faith and a big dose of love that pulls the characters together. This was a nice flowing romance and the second romance is a bonus. I recommend this to readers who enjoy second chance at love romances.

I received this through NetGalley and it qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

MBS - My 2017 HoHoHo Readathon Goals

Hello Reading Friends! It's time to share fun with holiday and winter-themed books.
For the next eight days, (1) I plan to read at least six holiday or winter-themed books;
most of my books are sci fi genre to keep with SciFi Month too!
(2) I hope to participate in at least four of the other five challenges.
(3) I plan to attend the Twitter Party.
(4) I plan to meet new friends who love reading as much as I do!
Please visit my HoHoHo Readathon Challenge Post 
where you will find the other Five Challenges listed too! 

The Participant Giveaway is available at Caffeinated Reader, our lovely host blog!

Use hashtag #HoHoHoRAT on your Tweets, Instagram, and Social media shares so we can all share the fun together!

See official rules for sign up. It’s not too late! (closes November 10th) at HoHoHoRAT

I am hoping to read these titles during 2017 HoHoHo Readathon:
1. The Snow Owl by Jon Hartling
2. Hey, Santa: SciFi Alien Holiday Romance (An Alien for the Holidays) by Jessica E. Subject
3. Chasing Christmas Past: An Airship Racing Chronicles Short Story Prequel (The Airship Racing Chronicles) by Melanie Karsak
4. A Ninja Dinosaur Christmas!!!: Super Awesome Edition by Sonya Saturday
5. Christmas, Corpses, and Clockwork Kittens by L. A. Nisula
6. Always Gray In Winter by Mark J. Engels

I started with the longest, Always Gray in Winter, as it is also a NetGalley review title and I need to get my NetGalley titles in.

Twitter Party!

Twitter Party! Wednesday, November 15, at 8:30 pm (EST) #HoHoHoRAT
Come chat for an hour. Make new friends and win some eBooks. Follow @kimbacaffeinate